The Dragon's Head Blog

Over 40 people including one from the Czech Republic participated in our March 4th, 9 am to 9 pm marathon workshop at the Pleasant Hill Center of the San Francisco Bay area branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA. Our instructor was Allen Pearce from the Portland, Oregon branch. While waiting for […]

Master Moy established a lasting legacy in our hearts. He taught us to help one another, work tirelessly and to host one another. When asked to plan fundraisers, intensives and dinners we simply respond, “of course we will do that!” Little by little we have learned so much. We still have much more to learn, […]

As a physician, I have been fascinated to observe the benefits of practising the Taoist Tai Chi® arts in myself and others. There is no simple scientific explanation for this.  However, scientific studies can observe its effects. In 2014 at my first workshop, I asked the instructor, Dr. Bruce McFarlane, whether research had been done and he […]

Cultivating stillness was the theme of the workshop, and the sense of stillness permeated through the kitchen, settling into the cook team and work groups. Kitchen tai chi is not only about using the principles of the moves into the work of chopping, stirring, and mixing. Like tai chi, cooking should be relaxed and from […]

              Work has begun on the southwest wing.  Locals are watching with interest. Structural work has begun on the southwest wing. The steel supports have been ordered since they have a six-week lead time to construct and deliver. The concrete footers are being dug by hand to reduce stress […]

        Two major February storms could not dampen a joyous celebration of Chinese New Year in St. John’s on February 18.   The weekend began with an instructors’ development session on Friday night, and Saturday’s intensive had us working hard on toryus, danyus and parting wild horse’s mane.  We also learned how to host […]

On Sunday morning the workshop participants practise the Jade Emperor lighting ceremony.

What a deeply enriching experience we’ve had in Australia. A weekend international workshop followed by a series of intensives with Marsha Eberhardt, President of FLK. It was such a pleasure  to welcome  Marsha and to prepare for and participate in this learning opportunity that was made available in a number of branches in Perth, Western […]

Returning to the origin … participants at the Fung Lok Kok workshop in Colchester prepared and served a delicious Chinese New Year banquet for 150 people, with 20 invited guests. Speakers included Jim Nicholson of the Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism, and Sir Bob Russell, High Steward of Colchester. Diners enjoyed watching a display of […]

The French TTCS members were very excited about welcoming Sean Dennison as the leader of the last weekend workshop in Lamballe. Sean helped us to find Don-yus and Tor-yus in the set. The more we can find them in the set, the best we improve our practice and our health. He helped us to look […]

The Women and Tai Chi Program at the International Center Florida had over 80 men and women participate. Karen Laughlin led the program and focused on toryus and danyus with emphasis on women’s health. Participants were treated to stories on female immortals and stories of taming the heart. She shared variations of the toryu that […]

Saturday of the workshop, and we are joined by a further 20 participants for the weekend. The attention turns inwards again, and Sean and Jim help people who have questions about quiet sitting. The group practices the Taoist saan fa chant again, sounding much stronger than earlier in the week. Sean provides an update on […]

On February 14th, Valentine’s Day, the Dunedin Branch held its tenth annual high tea. Scones, finger sandwiches, and chocolate-covered strawberries were among items donated by branch participants.  Over ninety Tampa Bay area participants joined in the fun. Many of the ladies wore their favorite hats keeping in the spirit. The focus was on teas from around […]

                              Working together – stories about Master Moy teaching the practical side of Taoist Tai Chi® arts in the kitchen and how we set the table. More stillness in the jongs extending that stillness into the tor yu. Day two is […]

Cultivating stillness …  Taoist saan fa chanting, practiced around a table; Confucian chanting including the Ten Thousand Buddhas sutra, practiced in front of the high shrine; and quiet sitting.  These are just some of the methods of cultivating stillness, under the gentle guidance and encouragement of workshop leaders Sean Dennison and Jim Nicholson.

The Chinese New Year celebration at the Portland branch was enjoyed by over 200 participants and guests.  The evening began with a social hour for mingling, eating hors-d’oeuvres, enjoying live music, trying our luck at choosing from the wall of wine, and bidding on theme baskets and activities such as sail boat rides and hosted […]

Participants of Taoist Tai Chi® from near and far gathered at the International Center in Dunedin, Florida starting on Wednesday February 22, 2017 for a five-day workshop. We started working together right away on cultivating a sense of stillness in movement not only with the jongs but during “tai chi set! Same thing!”

The leaflet on the table read “The Year of the Rooster Personality – Active, amusing and popular within a crowd… Roosters are talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest and loyal.” The room reflected this positive rooster energy as we celebrated. It was alive with laughter, conversation, love and community, and it enveloped us. Almost 100 people […]

Volunteers were chopping, slicing and cooking all week in preparation for the Chinese New Year banquet at the Pleasant Hill Center of the San Francisco Bay area branch of the Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA. Over 70 members and guests attended from all over the San Francisco Bay area. With the amount of […]

Calling all maple fans. The season is off to an early  start  and we would greatly appreciate your  help. Trees need tapping and new lines need to be set up. The fire needs tending, the bottles must be labelled and filled. All tasks are lighter with more hands and there is no finer way to […]